The first SM 16000 wide seedbed cultivator in Slovakia

Towards the end of March this year the company G-Progress, run by private farmer Ludovit Gruner, took delivery of their first Swifter SM wide seedbed cultivator. A machine that incorporates years of experience and traces its origins back to the SS and ST generations, ...

Towards the end of March this year the company G-Progress, run by private farmer Ludovit Gruner, took delivery of their first Swifter SM wide seedbed cultivator. A machine that incorporates years of experience and traces its origins back to the SS and ST generations, but with the added value of several technical improvements and innovations. This makes for a top of the range machine for complete seedbed preparation that delivers high quality performances.

The company G-Progress manages 3,250 hectares of arable land and has set its sights on expanding to livestock in the autumn with 150 pieces of cattle and on top of that there is the minor question of constructing two biogas plants.

Inspiration in company Rostěnice a.s.

"To enable me to prepare all of the fields in time whilst keeping with the agro-technical limits, I had to invest in the right tools. I took my inspiration from a visit to the Rostěnice a.s. farm, where for several years they have used a combination of tracked Case IH Quadtrac tractors and the Swifter SS and ST wide seedbed cultivators. I could see for my own eyes how tens of hectares would literally disappear in front of me. The land was well prepared at an incredible speed, after just one pass." So states the head of the firm, Ľudovít Grúner. After witnessing this set up in Rostěnice, G-Progress decided to buy a caterpillar tractor CASE IH Steiger Quadtrac with an output of 500 hp and the latest generation of the Swifter SM wide seedbed cultivator with a working width of 16m.

Main agronomist of company G-Progres and machine operator.

The company Rostěnice a.s. has been a great inspiration for Mr. Grúner.

The new generation has brought many innovations

The new model in the product line offers a number of structural innovations. These improve the functionality of the machine, allow for optimal use throughout the year, and also, provide greater comfort and make the machine easier to operate. The new range of machines have an overall modern and elegant design and in comparison to the older SS and ST models, this new model makes the alternation of sections with shares (version suitable for summer and autumn tillage) or with gamma tines (version suitable for early spring tillage) a lot easier. The individual sections are mounted independently to the side frames via the Wave-Flex system. The independent mounting component allows you to follow the surface across the entire working width of the machine. Moreover each working section has a hydraulic cylinder, which allows you – to raise those sections in the event of clogging, lighten the machine without lifting and fix the machine in its transport position. Another change is the track cultivator and the machine has been equipped with wider supporting tires for less soil compaction due to the improved weight distribution.

New independent attachment of working section (Wave - Flex system) is also used for seedbed cultivator Swifter SE.

The new generation of wide seedbed cultivators with new design.

High daily performances

During our visit the machine was preparing the land for the sowing of beet, but due to the demand to retain more moisture prior to seeding, it was not possible to achieve the optimum daily performance, which is expected from the machine. Despite this fact the Swifter SM, fitted with gamma tines, still prepared 70 hectares in the 8-hour shift at an average consumption rate of 4.7 l / ha.

70 hectares in the 8-hour shift with an average consumption rate of 4.7 l / ha.

Swifter SM will preparing also for the corn.

For the preparation of corn

"It's a pleasure to watch such a powerful machine at work. The engineers have done a great deal of quality work. There is visible progress, the attractive design and the effort that has been made to facilitate the handling of the machine. We'll see how the machine will fare when it comes to the preparation of corn. Come what may, the machine will be 100% active," Ľudovít Grúner cheerfully comments.